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Harriet Gordon #1
Singapore Sapphire
Harriet Gordon stumbles into a murderous web of stolen gems and cutthroat thieves as she runs from her tragic past in an enthralling new historical mystery series set in early twentieth century Singapore.
Singapore 1910--Desperate for a fresh start and to distance herself from her tragic past, Harriet Gordon finds herself in Singapore at the height of colonial rule. Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold--explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers' Club--dead with a knife in his throat.
When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriet's keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society.
When a second body is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a complex web of stolen gemstones and a mysterious gang of thieves who have no qualms about killing again to protect their secrets.
Singapore 1910--Desperate for a fresh start and to distance herself from her tragic past, Harriet Gordon finds herself in Singapore at the height of colonial rule. Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold--explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers' Club--dead with a knife in his throat.
When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriet's keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society.
When a second body is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a complex web of stolen gemstones and a mysterious gang of thieves who have no qualms about killing again to protect their secrets.
367 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2019
418 people are currently reading
6307 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Stuart
6 books451 followersAustralian author, A.M. Stuart's love affair with Singapore began in 2000 when she moved, with her family to Singapore, where she lived for 3 years, throwing herself into exploring the history and the different cultures of the island.
The idea for the Harriet Gordon Mysteries was born in the microfiche room of Singapore's National Library when she came across an advertisement in a 1905 edition of the Straits Times… "An Englishwoman undertakes Typing and Shorthand… She guarantees… absolute secrecy"!
The first Harriet Gordon Mystery, SINGAPORE SAPPHIRE, was published in 2019 and has been followed by REVENGE IN RUBIES, EVIL IN EMERALD, TERROR IN TOPAZ and AGONY IN AMETHYST. There will be more to come!
Born in Kenya, her family came to Australia when she was ten years old. Outside writing, she enjoyed a varied career as a lawyer in a wide number of fields including the military and as a senior executive in the fire services. She also writes historical fiction as ALISON STUART.
The idea for the Harriet Gordon Mysteries was born in the microfiche room of Singapore's National Library when she came across an advertisement in a 1905 edition of the Straits Times… "An Englishwoman undertakes Typing and Shorthand… She guarantees… absolute secrecy"!
The first Harriet Gordon Mystery, SINGAPORE SAPPHIRE, was published in 2019 and has been followed by REVENGE IN RUBIES, EVIL IN EMERALD, TERROR IN TOPAZ and AGONY IN AMETHYST. There will be more to come!
Born in Kenya, her family came to Australia when she was ten years old. Outside writing, she enjoyed a varied career as a lawyer in a wide number of fields including the military and as a senior executive in the fire services. She also writes historical fiction as ALISON STUART.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 548 reviews
October 21, 2025
I've been looking for a good mystery series to sink my teeth into, and this just might be it.
Set in colonial Singapore, Singapore Sapphire introduces us to the strong and unflinching Harriet Gordon, who is trying to earn some money as a typist at a time when women are discouraged from education and working. When her first client is found murdered, she is drawn into the case, along with the kind and intelligent Inspector Curran. As more bodies show up, they soon realize this case is bigger than anyone initially thought.
I found the mystery to be quite fun. There were plenty of shady characters, and the story, once it got going, unfolded with one interesting event after another. It was also an unusual change of pace from most mysteries to have the police in here be portrayed as competent and kind. In fact, though this series focuses on Harriet and she pokes around as much as she can as a civilian, Inspector Curran plays a vital role in solving the case and saving the day.
I did find the pacing of this book to be a bit uneven, with the first quarter of it being quite slow and plodding. With this being the first book in the series, the characters and the setting understandably have to be introduced, though it felt like that was done a little too leisurely. But I'm really glad I stuck it out, because once I got past that part, the story picked up and became unceasingly entertaining.
Part of the reason this book initially attracted my attention is that I loved my visit to Singapore a few years ago, and it's always fun to read a story set in a place you've been. The author did an amazing job portraying the atmosphere of the place, with the heat, its oppressive humidity that's particularly rough for newcomers, the torrential rain storms, and its interesting mix of people from many different backgrounds. It was also fun to recognize places that we had visited while we were there.
This is the first book in the series, and it's an enjoyable and compelling start. I can't wait for more adventures with Harriet and Curran.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
#2. Revenge in Rubies
#3. Evil in Emerald
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Set in colonial Singapore, Singapore Sapphire introduces us to the strong and unflinching Harriet Gordon, who is trying to earn some money as a typist at a time when women are discouraged from education and working. When her first client is found murdered, she is drawn into the case, along with the kind and intelligent Inspector Curran. As more bodies show up, they soon realize this case is bigger than anyone initially thought.
I found the mystery to be quite fun. There were plenty of shady characters, and the story, once it got going, unfolded with one interesting event after another. It was also an unusual change of pace from most mysteries to have the police in here be portrayed as competent and kind. In fact, though this series focuses on Harriet and she pokes around as much as she can as a civilian, Inspector Curran plays a vital role in solving the case and saving the day.
I did find the pacing of this book to be a bit uneven, with the first quarter of it being quite slow and plodding. With this being the first book in the series, the characters and the setting understandably have to be introduced, though it felt like that was done a little too leisurely. But I'm really glad I stuck it out, because once I got past that part, the story picked up and became unceasingly entertaining.
Part of the reason this book initially attracted my attention is that I loved my visit to Singapore a few years ago, and it's always fun to read a story set in a place you've been. The author did an amazing job portraying the atmosphere of the place, with the heat, its oppressive humidity that's particularly rough for newcomers, the torrential rain storms, and its interesting mix of people from many different backgrounds. It was also fun to recognize places that we had visited while we were there.
This is the first book in the series, and it's an enjoyable and compelling start. I can't wait for more adventures with Harriet and Curran.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
#2. Revenge in Rubies
#3. Evil in Emerald
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
October 14, 2024
Singapore Sapphire (Harriet Gordon Mystery #1)
by A.M. Stuart (Author), Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)
Harriet Gordon has lost so much, everything, in fact. Now she's living in Singapore with her older brother, Reverend Julian Edwards, headmaster at St. Thomas School for English Boys. While she works part time at the school, to earn her board, she is also offering her skills to those who are willing to pay for her secretarial skills. This leads to her first such job transcribing the memoirs of Sir Oswald Newbold. Sadly, the job is very short term because the day after she is hired, Harriet finds the man dead, his house ransacked.
Say hello to Inspector Robert Curran. Tall, dashing, a great cricket player, smart, and the star of a don't blink or you'll miss it swoon worthy scene ala Jane Austin's Mr. Darcy. Be still my heart! Curran and Harriet hit it off as Curran recognizes Harriet's brains and wit, meaning Harriet has no need to hide her talents under a basket, as is expected of women of this time period. There is even a hint of attraction between the pair but Curran's hearts lies elsewhere, with his mysterious, scarred lover and housemate. Curran is said to have "gone native" and other rumors circulate about his past. Curran doesn't care a bit what anyone thinks of him. Harriet has her own past that she feels she much hide because she fears it could be the end of her brother's job if it is found out.
The audiobook narration is excellent. Saskia does such a great job with the voices of both men and women, I can forget that a woman is voicing all the characters. I did have problems listening to the story because there were so many characters to keep track of that I think I would have had an easier time doing so if I had the book in front of me. I've already started reading book two and seeing the names of the characters is making it easier for me to keep them straight in my head.
Still, I was drenched in the atmosphere of the time, place, and class distinctions. I felt like I could hear the mosquitos, feel the heavy damp air, and smell the smells, good and bad, of the area. The story meanders a bit as Curran and Harriet struggle to make sense of the first crime and then another crime that has to be connected to the first one. People are being cagey and lying and they are being led down false trails. I enjoyed watching these two smart people as they head towards a dangerous conclusion.
Pub Aug 6th 2019 by Penguin Audio
by A.M. Stuart (Author), Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)
Harriet Gordon has lost so much, everything, in fact. Now she's living in Singapore with her older brother, Reverend Julian Edwards, headmaster at St. Thomas School for English Boys. While she works part time at the school, to earn her board, she is also offering her skills to those who are willing to pay for her secretarial skills. This leads to her first such job transcribing the memoirs of Sir Oswald Newbold. Sadly, the job is very short term because the day after she is hired, Harriet finds the man dead, his house ransacked.
Say hello to Inspector Robert Curran. Tall, dashing, a great cricket player, smart, and the star of a don't blink or you'll miss it swoon worthy scene ala Jane Austin's Mr. Darcy. Be still my heart! Curran and Harriet hit it off as Curran recognizes Harriet's brains and wit, meaning Harriet has no need to hide her talents under a basket, as is expected of women of this time period. There is even a hint of attraction between the pair but Curran's hearts lies elsewhere, with his mysterious, scarred lover and housemate. Curran is said to have "gone native" and other rumors circulate about his past. Curran doesn't care a bit what anyone thinks of him. Harriet has her own past that she feels she much hide because she fears it could be the end of her brother's job if it is found out.
The audiobook narration is excellent. Saskia does such a great job with the voices of both men and women, I can forget that a woman is voicing all the characters. I did have problems listening to the story because there were so many characters to keep track of that I think I would have had an easier time doing so if I had the book in front of me. I've already started reading book two and seeing the names of the characters is making it easier for me to keep them straight in my head.
Still, I was drenched in the atmosphere of the time, place, and class distinctions. I felt like I could hear the mosquitos, feel the heavy damp air, and smell the smells, good and bad, of the area. The story meanders a bit as Curran and Harriet struggle to make sense of the first crime and then another crime that has to be connected to the first one. People are being cagey and lying and they are being led down false trails. I enjoyed watching these two smart people as they head towards a dangerous conclusion.
Pub Aug 6th 2019 by Penguin Audio
August 21, 2019
Initially the superlative vocab of the book made no mistake. 'Comprised' was not bundled with 'of'. The use of the phrase 'hold the fort' didn't include 'down'. There was the drawn match where 'named for' was used instead of 'named after'.
But the story itself was ill served about halfway through the book. The promising, easy and breezy pacing of the book was butchered in my humble opinion. I am not used to the climax to kick in halfway through.
That fault maybe lies with me but then I can only narrate what I had undergone. If a book made me seriously want to ditch it, then I can't give it 5 stars, can I?
But though the mystery element itself was not out of this world, the world building was impeccable. The Singapore of more than a century ago was well lit and shot. It was a fictive world that was well dolled up for our pleasure.
I rue the fact that I've given the book 3 stars, but it's going to stay that way. What was needed was a hook, a selling point, a twist. And there was little of that. I do want to observe what is next for this talented author. That's it from me.
But the story itself was ill served about halfway through the book. The promising, easy and breezy pacing of the book was butchered in my humble opinion. I am not used to the climax to kick in halfway through.
That fault maybe lies with me but then I can only narrate what I had undergone. If a book made me seriously want to ditch it, then I can't give it 5 stars, can I?
But though the mystery element itself was not out of this world, the world building was impeccable. The Singapore of more than a century ago was well lit and shot. It was a fictive world that was well dolled up for our pleasure.
I rue the fact that I've given the book 3 stars, but it's going to stay that way. What was needed was a hook, a selling point, a twist. And there was little of that. I do want to observe what is next for this talented author. That's it from me.
June 13, 2022
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Series: Harriet Gordon Mystery, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 48 min
Audible Review
I'm a mood reader and I love historical mysteries, so when I saw this new series with a Singapore setting that takes place in 1910, I just had to try it. The narrator was excellent and really enhanced the experience. She does have an accent, so I had to concentrate in the beginning until my brain adjusted! There is also a quite a large cast to keep tabs on which was a bit challenging at times.
I loved the character of the English widow, Harriet and the handsome Inspector Curran. They really made quite the crime fighting team. I'm curious about what they will be up to in the next installment.
Good murder mystery, strong characterization, likeable characters, though it does get a bit long winded at times. Overall, thumbs up!
Audible Review
I'm a mood reader and I love historical mysteries, so when I saw this new series with a Singapore setting that takes place in 1910, I just had to try it. The narrator was excellent and really enhanced the experience. She does have an accent, so I had to concentrate in the beginning until my brain adjusted! There is also a quite a large cast to keep tabs on which was a bit challenging at times.
I loved the character of the English widow, Harriet and the handsome Inspector Curran. They really made quite the crime fighting team. I'm curious about what they will be up to in the next installment.
Good murder mystery, strong characterization, likeable characters, though it does get a bit long winded at times. Overall, thumbs up!
October 21, 2021
An historical mystery, set in beautiful Singapore and written by one of my favourite authors, Alison Stuart. And it is the first in a series! What more could I ask for?
The action takes place in 1910 when all of the important jobs are taken by the British residents who are generally ex army and upper class. Their wives and daughters are encouraged to serve afternoon teas and visit each other for entertainment. The main character in our story however not only wants to work but has to to make ends meet.
Harriet Gordon is widowed and lives with her brother Julian who is headmaster at St Thomas School for English Boys. She advertises her secretarial skills but unfortunately her very first job gets her into a world of trouble and personal danger. It also introduces her to Inspector Robert Curran, for once a fictional policeman who knows his job and who is thoughtful and caring.
The mystery is clever, the Singaporean atmosphere beautifully described and the characters are first class. All round an excellent and very enjoyable book and I am really looking forward to the next one.
The action takes place in 1910 when all of the important jobs are taken by the British residents who are generally ex army and upper class. Their wives and daughters are encouraged to serve afternoon teas and visit each other for entertainment. The main character in our story however not only wants to work but has to to make ends meet.
Harriet Gordon is widowed and lives with her brother Julian who is headmaster at St Thomas School for English Boys. She advertises her secretarial skills but unfortunately her very first job gets her into a world of trouble and personal danger. It also introduces her to Inspector Robert Curran, for once a fictional policeman who knows his job and who is thoughtful and caring.
The mystery is clever, the Singaporean atmosphere beautifully described and the characters are first class. All round an excellent and very enjoyable book and I am really looking forward to the next one.
October 29, 2021
Harriet Gordon is a young English widow who lost her husband and young son to typhus in India, where she was helping her husband, a doctor, tend to the poor. After a difficult time back home in England, she decides to join her brother, the Reverend Julian Edwards, headmaster of a boys’ school in Singapore.
The Singapore that Harriet arrives to in 1910, is very much at the height of British colonial rule, but also populated by a mix of other European cultures, especially Dutch, as well as Malay, Chinese and Burmese. At a time when British women were not expected to work but instead marry, raise children, visit each other and drink tea, Harriet not only does the office work for Julian’s school but has also placed an ad in the paper offering her services as a typist. Unfortunately, her first assignment for a boorish man who wants her to type his boring memoirs does not end well when she finds him horribly murdered at his home.
This is a really enjoyable historical mystery. The attention to historical detail gives us a very atmospheric picture of Singapore as a colonial outpost, hot and humid but also full of colour and life. Harriet is the sort of strong minded, independent woman starting to emerge in Britain as women campaigned for more rights. She’s intelligent and also compassionate and not afraid of standing up for what she believes to be right.
Inspector Robert Curran, in charge of the investigation into the murder, is also an interesting character. Tall and good looking, single but rumoured to be sleeping with his Burmese housekeeper, he is intrigued by Harriet’s no-nonsense approach to life and accepts her help with the investigation when needed. While the plot starts off slowly, setting the scene after the initial murder, the tension ramps up in the second half of the book as Curran starts to uncover a crime ring working together and lives of others come into danger. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Harriet and Curran and am pleased to see there is already a sequel to this and a third book soon to be published.
The Singapore that Harriet arrives to in 1910, is very much at the height of British colonial rule, but also populated by a mix of other European cultures, especially Dutch, as well as Malay, Chinese and Burmese. At a time when British women were not expected to work but instead marry, raise children, visit each other and drink tea, Harriet not only does the office work for Julian’s school but has also placed an ad in the paper offering her services as a typist. Unfortunately, her first assignment for a boorish man who wants her to type his boring memoirs does not end well when she finds him horribly murdered at his home.
This is a really enjoyable historical mystery. The attention to historical detail gives us a very atmospheric picture of Singapore as a colonial outpost, hot and humid but also full of colour and life. Harriet is the sort of strong minded, independent woman starting to emerge in Britain as women campaigned for more rights. She’s intelligent and also compassionate and not afraid of standing up for what she believes to be right.
Inspector Robert Curran, in charge of the investigation into the murder, is also an interesting character. Tall and good looking, single but rumoured to be sleeping with his Burmese housekeeper, he is intrigued by Harriet’s no-nonsense approach to life and accepts her help with the investigation when needed. While the plot starts off slowly, setting the scene after the initial murder, the tension ramps up in the second half of the book as Curran starts to uncover a crime ring working together and lives of others come into danger. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Harriet and Curran and am pleased to see there is already a sequel to this and a third book soon to be published.
July 29, 2019
It was 1910 when Harriet Gordon escaped the tragedy of her past to Singapore. Her brother, Reverend Julian Edwards, was master at the local school and Harriet did some unpaid work for St. Thomas. But needing funds saw her advertising herself as a personal secretary and when she began typing the manuscript for Sir Oswald Newbold, she had no idea her acquaintance with him would cause such dramatic changes in her life.
The murder of Newbold was particularly vicious – Harriet finding him was shocking. But when Inspector Robert Curran arrived at the scene, he was impressed at her calm demeanor. As the investigation advanced, the connection to rubies and other gems seemed widespread. With a young man missing, a body found in the nearby river and dark secrets finding their way to the surface, Harriet and Curran were facing uncertainty and danger. Who was the mastermind? Would they find the killer before he struck again? Because it was certain he would kill anyone in his path…
Singapore Sapphire is the 1st in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series by Aussie author A.M. Stuart (aka Alison Stuart) and I loved it! Two of my favourite genres – historical fiction and mysteries – combined to make an enticing, fascinating look at Singapore when under colonial rule; the daring of criminals in their desire to be wealthy; and the blanket of humidity which hung over everyone, leeching the energy from one and all. Harriet Gordon and Robert Curran were excellent characters. I’m really looking forward to book 2 in the series and have no hesitation in recommending Singapore Sapphire to all fans of historical mysteries.
With thanks to NetGalley and Berkley/Penguin Random House New York for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The murder of Newbold was particularly vicious – Harriet finding him was shocking. But when Inspector Robert Curran arrived at the scene, he was impressed at her calm demeanor. As the investigation advanced, the connection to rubies and other gems seemed widespread. With a young man missing, a body found in the nearby river and dark secrets finding their way to the surface, Harriet and Curran were facing uncertainty and danger. Who was the mastermind? Would they find the killer before he struck again? Because it was certain he would kill anyone in his path…
Singapore Sapphire is the 1st in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series by Aussie author A.M. Stuart (aka Alison Stuart) and I loved it! Two of my favourite genres – historical fiction and mysteries – combined to make an enticing, fascinating look at Singapore when under colonial rule; the daring of criminals in their desire to be wealthy; and the blanket of humidity which hung over everyone, leeching the energy from one and all. Harriet Gordon and Robert Curran were excellent characters. I’m really looking forward to book 2 in the series and have no hesitation in recommending Singapore Sapphire to all fans of historical mysteries.
With thanks to NetGalley and Berkley/Penguin Random House New York for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2019
My favorite new mystery series! Set in a unique and compelling setting, and filled with fascinating historical research, deft characterization, and thrilling suspense, readers will devour Singapore Sapphire. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read Harriet’s next adventure.
Read
June 28, 2019This impeccably researched historical mystery is closer to thriller than it is to romance, though the two lead characters are the widowed suffragette Harriet Gordon and Inspector Robert Curran, who many of the British imperialists living in Singapore tsk over because they feel he's "gone native."
Some readers might object to the very nature of the book, depicting English people during the height of the imperial period (on the verge of its fall); I thought Stuart did a superb job of walking that knife-edge between depicting people of the time, and yet not offering the unexamined prejudices of that period as admirable or nostalgic.
It was a delight watching Gordon and Curran form a friendship and partnership, each respecting the other's intelligence and skills. I loved Harriet's brother, the gentle headmaster/pastor of a struggling English school. Also a delight was the care Stuart took to give all her characters, even the ones appearing for half a page, enough complexity to make me care for them, or dread them in the case of certain ones. Even the dead took on personality.
Stuart's vivid descriptions of the torrid climate and flora of the area also impressed me. Altogether this book looks to be the start of a very promising series.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Some readers might object to the very nature of the book, depicting English people during the height of the imperial period (on the verge of its fall); I thought Stuart did a superb job of walking that knife-edge between depicting people of the time, and yet not offering the unexamined prejudices of that period as admirable or nostalgic.
It was a delight watching Gordon and Curran form a friendship and partnership, each respecting the other's intelligence and skills. I loved Harriet's brother, the gentle headmaster/pastor of a struggling English school. Also a delight was the care Stuart took to give all her characters, even the ones appearing for half a page, enough complexity to make me care for them, or dread them in the case of certain ones. Even the dead took on personality.
Stuart's vivid descriptions of the torrid climate and flora of the area also impressed me. Altogether this book looks to be the start of a very promising series.
Copy provided by NetGalley
July 25, 2019
This is such an awesome story, I do love a good mystery and this one hit the spot, set in Singapore in 1910, MS Stuart took me back in time to murders and a gang smuggling gems and a story that I did not want to put down. I am loving Harriet and Inspector Robert Curran and am truly thrilled that this book is the start of a series.
Harriet Gordon has decided to start afresh in Singapore with her brother, Reverend Julian who runs a school, Harriet has been through a lot and is settling in in Singapore, but she needs to find some work and takes on a job for Sir Oswald Newbold typing up his memoirs, but when he is horribly murdered and she discovers the body, the peace that Harriet was looking forward to is not going to happen as she gets involved with this murder and more.
Inspector Robert Curran is enjoying his position in the detective branch, but with Newbold’s murder and a second murder of a young man working in the hotel, Curran realizes that his witness Harriet is very good at seeing things and when he uncovers things from her past they form a friendship that keeps them working together to solve the murders, but not before Harriet finds herself in very real danger.
This is a story that you will not want to put down, every time I had to put is down Harriet and the characters were in my mind and I never stopped trying to work out the killer or killers it is so well written, and so well researched that I truly felt I was back in Singapore in 1910, the characters are so alive and real the good and the bad ones, I loved it from start to finish compelling, gripping and fabulous if you love a good mystery then this is one I highly recommend.
Harriet Gordon has decided to start afresh in Singapore with her brother, Reverend Julian who runs a school, Harriet has been through a lot and is settling in in Singapore, but she needs to find some work and takes on a job for Sir Oswald Newbold typing up his memoirs, but when he is horribly murdered and she discovers the body, the peace that Harriet was looking forward to is not going to happen as she gets involved with this murder and more.
Inspector Robert Curran is enjoying his position in the detective branch, but with Newbold’s murder and a second murder of a young man working in the hotel, Curran realizes that his witness Harriet is very good at seeing things and when he uncovers things from her past they form a friendship that keeps them working together to solve the murders, but not before Harriet finds herself in very real danger.
This is a story that you will not want to put down, every time I had to put is down Harriet and the characters were in my mind and I never stopped trying to work out the killer or killers it is so well written, and so well researched that I truly felt I was back in Singapore in 1910, the characters are so alive and real the good and the bad ones, I loved it from start to finish compelling, gripping and fabulous if you love a good mystery then this is one I highly recommend.
November 12, 2021
I liked this opening book to a (for me!) new series! :)
The most fascinating thing here is the ambience: Singapore! WOW!
I've been in Sipgapore and to see the difference between Singapore now and Singapore in 1910 was so very much exciting!
The story flows smoothly and the mystery solving is logical and interesting.
I liked both Harriet and Curran. They're very life-like characters with flaws and strengths and they act according to them.
I found another very good series! Yeah!!!
The most fascinating thing here is the ambience: Singapore! WOW!
I've been in Sipgapore and to see the difference between Singapore now and Singapore in 1910 was so very much exciting!
The story flows smoothly and the mystery solving is logical and interesting.
I liked both Harriet and Curran. They're very life-like characters with flaws and strengths and they act according to them.
I found another very good series! Yeah!!!
February 7, 2023
“You don’t have to be loved to be the president of the Explorer’s.” Foster leaned forward. “Frankly. all he had to show for his record was that one expedition to Burma and any expedition where good men are lost is not successful, whatever riches you may find.”
There are many reasons for reading a book and for this reader it was the location – melting pot Singapore, a favourite stopover en route to and from Europe (I hate shopping and see little to charm in the Middle East).
Set in 1910 we have what appears to be a nascent love affair between two English people – Harriet Gordon, former suffragette; widowed after the loss of her husband, a doctor, and young son in India, and Robert Curran, grandson of some earl or other, a Detective Inspector of the Straits Settlements Police Force, living with a “native” woman. The two are brought together by the grisly murder of Sir Oswald Newbold of the Explorers and Geographers Club, who hides a murky past.
Others have related the story more eloquently than I can, suffice to say I enjoyed the descriptions of police work in the Equatorial climate, Kranji, Changi and Fort Canning back in the day - what people ate, wore and how they travelled and the villains are well-described.
Overall: well-written, atmospheric, but I prefer mysteries to be a little less transparent.
There are many reasons for reading a book and for this reader it was the location – melting pot Singapore, a favourite stopover en route to and from Europe (I hate shopping and see little to charm in the Middle East).
Set in 1910 we have what appears to be a nascent love affair between two English people – Harriet Gordon, former suffragette; widowed after the loss of her husband, a doctor, and young son in India, and Robert Curran, grandson of some earl or other, a Detective Inspector of the Straits Settlements Police Force, living with a “native” woman. The two are brought together by the grisly murder of Sir Oswald Newbold of the Explorers and Geographers Club, who hides a murky past.
Others have related the story more eloquently than I can, suffice to say I enjoyed the descriptions of police work in the Equatorial climate, Kranji, Changi and Fort Canning back in the day - what people ate, wore and how they travelled and the villains are well-described.
Overall: well-written, atmospheric, but I prefer mysteries to be a little less transparent.
October 6, 2020
I got this when it went on sale for $1.99. It has an interesting 1910 colonial Singapore setting, when Europeans, especially those from Great Britain, more or less controlled Singapore and many other places around the globe, such as India, Malaysia, many parts of Africa, etc. You name it, the Great White Race had taken control of it.
To fully enjoy the book, lay your 21st-century sensibilities and wishes for revisionist history aside. Go with the fact that colonialism was part of the way of the world in 1910. To give some of the characters credit, they did see the injustice in this idea of the Great White Man lording it over the natives and real owners of the country, yet they still were a bit complicit in the act.
Our heroine here is Englishwoman Harriet Gordon, who had lost her husband and young son to typhoid fever in India a few years ago, had spent time as a widow in England participating in the suffragette movement, and, now, to run from her past, is in Singapore living with her brother, a man of God and headmaster of St. Thomas School for Boys. Harriet works for free as a typist at the school, but recently she decided to make some money by offering her secretarial skills to others. That's how she found recent part time employment helping Sir Oswald Newbold, explorer and mine owner, transcribe his memoirs.
When Sir Oswald and his houseboy are found brutally murdered, Inspector Robert Curran, another English character who seems to be running from his past, becomes the officer in charge of the investigation. Harriet, as naturally is the case in mystery series such as this one, shows an aptitude for sleuthing and works with Curran. As they investigate, they develop a friendship and admiration for each other.
The mystery is interesting and involves many characters, most of them European, and several red herrings. There are many rather sleazy people running around in the story and there may be a possible crime organization at work. More murder, a few kidnappings, and some action/adventure ensue. This is more than a cozy mystery.
A few criticisms I have are: (1) The criminals are revealed too soon in the story and even before the reveal, the reader has a pretty good idea of who they are. (2) Instead of a more convoluted mystery, it's pretty straightforward and the last third of the book is spent on kidnappings and escapes or rescues. I prefer a cerebral mystery that's more difficult to solve instead of all this action/adventure. (3) This is the genre of mystery with a female sleuth working with a police detective which usually will feature a romance between the two down the line in the series. I don't see that happening here since Inspector Curran has a live-in native love, Li An, his housekeeper cum mistress, whose part in the story is unclear other than for her bedwarming abilities. Perhaps the second book will develop Li An more fully and flesh her out as a real person.
To fully enjoy the book, lay your 21st-century sensibilities and wishes for revisionist history aside. Go with the fact that colonialism was part of the way of the world in 1910. To give some of the characters credit, they did see the injustice in this idea of the Great White Man lording it over the natives and real owners of the country, yet they still were a bit complicit in the act.
Our heroine here is Englishwoman Harriet Gordon, who had lost her husband and young son to typhoid fever in India a few years ago, had spent time as a widow in England participating in the suffragette movement, and, now, to run from her past, is in Singapore living with her brother, a man of God and headmaster of St. Thomas School for Boys. Harriet works for free as a typist at the school, but recently she decided to make some money by offering her secretarial skills to others. That's how she found recent part time employment helping Sir Oswald Newbold, explorer and mine owner, transcribe his memoirs.
When Sir Oswald and his houseboy are found brutally murdered, Inspector Robert Curran, another English character who seems to be running from his past, becomes the officer in charge of the investigation. Harriet, as naturally is the case in mystery series such as this one, shows an aptitude for sleuthing and works with Curran. As they investigate, they develop a friendship and admiration for each other.
The mystery is interesting and involves many characters, most of them European, and several red herrings. There are many rather sleazy people running around in the story and there may be a possible crime organization at work. More murder, a few kidnappings, and some action/adventure ensue. This is more than a cozy mystery.
A few criticisms I have are: (1) The criminals are revealed too soon in the story and even before the reveal, the reader has a pretty good idea of who they are. (2) Instead of a more convoluted mystery, it's pretty straightforward and the last third of the book is spent on kidnappings and escapes or rescues. I prefer a cerebral mystery that's more difficult to solve instead of all this action/adventure. (3) This is the genre of mystery with a female sleuth working with a police detective which usually will feature a romance between the two down the line in the series. I don't see that happening here since Inspector Curran has a live-in native love, Li An, his housekeeper cum mistress, whose part in the story is unclear other than for her bedwarming abilities. Perhaps the second book will develop Li An more fully and flesh her out as a real person.
February 1, 2020
***Short version: An interesting setting, likable characters, and a plot involving greed and murder all combined to make a strong start to a new historical mystery series. It was superbly topped off by a stellar performance by the narrator. ***
The year is 1910 and Harriet Gordon, a young English widow, is trying to leave a traumatic past behind her by joining her brother in Singapore where he serves as the Headmaster for a boy's school. She does some clerical work for the school but as that is mostly unpaid work she has undertaken the side job of transcribing the memoirs for a retired explorer. The murder of her employer kicks off this promising start to a new series.
I really, really liked Harriet. She's smart, observant, and has a strong inner core but she still moves believably through the time period in which she lives. I also liked that the author chose to show that Harriet still feels fear and despair...sometimes giving in momentarily to tears...rather than following the usual default position that thinks the only way to show strength in a female character is to make her impervious to such emotions.
While the series bears only Harriet's name, the second leading character is that of Inspector Robert Curran, a fellow Englishman, who is likely more at home in Singapore's exotic environment than many of his fellow expatriates are comfortable with. One of my pet peeves in stories dealing with amateur sleuths is that all to often the police are written as being incompetent. Thankfully, that is not the case here. Curran is a good man and a very good detective and I enjoyed the changing interplay between him and Harriet as they moved from skepticism about each other to a place of growing respect.
Harriet's brother, Julian, plays a smaller role in the story but I also really liked him and I loved his relationship with Harriet. They made my heart happy. My only disappointment with the story is the romance. There is one but it's not where I wanted it. That's always the way with me, it seems. When I don't want a romance in a story the author seems intent to force one down my throat. But when I do want one, the author goes in another direction. Oh well, the romance was kept to a minimum here so it's a really small quibble and doesn't detract from the story's many other strong points.
Which brings me to the actual mystery plot. The murder happens in the first chapter, or rather the discovery of the dead body does, so that there is no time wasted on maneuvering characters into position. I found the mystery interesting and not too convoluted. Although it wasn't too difficult to pinpoint the likely guilty person or persons, it was still enjoyable to watch Harriet and Curran navigate the clues...and there were still enough unclear points to sustain interest.
And, of course, I have to give proper kudos to the narrator for doing a great job. She managed all the voices, both male and female, wonderfully. Her line delivery was always spot on, giving each line the appropriate amount of emotion needed to make it all believable. I look forward to reading the second book when it comes out.
The year is 1910 and Harriet Gordon, a young English widow, is trying to leave a traumatic past behind her by joining her brother in Singapore where he serves as the Headmaster for a boy's school. She does some clerical work for the school but as that is mostly unpaid work she has undertaken the side job of transcribing the memoirs for a retired explorer. The murder of her employer kicks off this promising start to a new series.
I really, really liked Harriet. She's smart, observant, and has a strong inner core but she still moves believably through the time period in which she lives. I also liked that the author chose to show that Harriet still feels fear and despair...sometimes giving in momentarily to tears...rather than following the usual default position that thinks the only way to show strength in a female character is to make her impervious to such emotions.
While the series bears only Harriet's name, the second leading character is that of Inspector Robert Curran, a fellow Englishman, who is likely more at home in Singapore's exotic environment than many of his fellow expatriates are comfortable with. One of my pet peeves in stories dealing with amateur sleuths is that all to often the police are written as being incompetent. Thankfully, that is not the case here. Curran is a good man and a very good detective and I enjoyed the changing interplay between him and Harriet as they moved from skepticism about each other to a place of growing respect.
Harriet's brother, Julian, plays a smaller role in the story but I also really liked him and I loved his relationship with Harriet. They made my heart happy. My only disappointment with the story is the romance. There is one but it's not where I wanted it. That's always the way with me, it seems. When I don't want a romance in a story the author seems intent to force one down my throat. But when I do want one, the author goes in another direction. Oh well, the romance was kept to a minimum here so it's a really small quibble and doesn't detract from the story's many other strong points.
Which brings me to the actual mystery plot. The murder happens in the first chapter, or rather the discovery of the dead body does, so that there is no time wasted on maneuvering characters into position. I found the mystery interesting and not too convoluted. Although it wasn't too difficult to pinpoint the likely guilty person or persons, it was still enjoyable to watch Harriet and Curran navigate the clues...and there were still enough unclear points to sustain interest.
And, of course, I have to give proper kudos to the narrator for doing a great job. She managed all the voices, both male and female, wonderfully. Her line delivery was always spot on, giving each line the appropriate amount of emotion needed to make it all believable. I look forward to reading the second book when it comes out.
August 18, 2022
I am going to be a bit of a downer here as I thought this book was only OK. The first half of the book laying out the characters and the mystery seemed to drag for me. I had looked forward to a book not in an area that I normally would read. Singapore did not end up sounding romantic and faraway....just hot and muggy. At about the 50% mark of the audiobook (which the reader did a good job on) something finally started to happen. The perpetrators were starting to slip up and the mystery was being solved. Many others have enjoyed this story. I bought the book and that is why I finished it. I may try another book in the series as it was well written, but I would not reread it.
August 9, 2019
Colonial Singapore and murder! Great reading!
It's the early 1900's in Singapore. So realistic I felt I was there!
Harriet Gordon, widowed and made childless in one fell swoop in India due to Typhus, went home to England. It was there she came in contact with the Suffragette Movement, an organization that espoused those things she'd not only envisioned, but felt deeply. That path ended badly and she joined her brother in Colonial Singapore where he is the Reverend and Headmaster of a prestigious boys school for expats.
Wanting to at least earn some sort of living (any work she does for the school is unpaid) Harriet takes out an advertisement to work as a private secretary.
Sir Oswald Newbold is deciding to write his memoirs and calls on her services. Unfortunately when Hattie arrives she finds Sir Oswald dead with his throat cut.
Inspector Robert Curran is quite taken with the sensibility of Harriet when he arrives at the crime scene. Throughout his investigation Harriet is there in deducing things, if not prior to the Inspector, then not far behind.
All trails point towards Burma, Sir Oswald's explorations, ruby mining and scraps of clues that include a defunct reference to the East India Company.
As the story progresses we see the cultural divide between the colonialists and Singaporeans. The author strikes just the right note as the various cultural interact.
Curran comes under the fire of gossip, almost to the point of social,ostracism because he has Singaporean mistress. However as he's a sterling cricketer much is forgiven. Curran tells Harriet, "Li An is more important to me than social acceptance.” Curran would marry her but Khoo Li An doesn't want him to fly in the face of his compatriots.
I wonder where this devoted relationship will go to in the future"
If future plots are as complex and delicious as this I am looking forward to more of Curran and Harriet and any futher investigative undertakings.
An intriguing and throughly enjoyable read!
A Berkley Publication via NetGalley
It's the early 1900's in Singapore. So realistic I felt I was there!
Harriet Gordon, widowed and made childless in one fell swoop in India due to Typhus, went home to England. It was there she came in contact with the Suffragette Movement, an organization that espoused those things she'd not only envisioned, but felt deeply. That path ended badly and she joined her brother in Colonial Singapore where he is the Reverend and Headmaster of a prestigious boys school for expats.
Wanting to at least earn some sort of living (any work she does for the school is unpaid) Harriet takes out an advertisement to work as a private secretary.
Sir Oswald Newbold is deciding to write his memoirs and calls on her services. Unfortunately when Hattie arrives she finds Sir Oswald dead with his throat cut.
Inspector Robert Curran is quite taken with the sensibility of Harriet when he arrives at the crime scene. Throughout his investigation Harriet is there in deducing things, if not prior to the Inspector, then not far behind.
All trails point towards Burma, Sir Oswald's explorations, ruby mining and scraps of clues that include a defunct reference to the East India Company.
As the story progresses we see the cultural divide between the colonialists and Singaporeans. The author strikes just the right note as the various cultural interact.
Curran comes under the fire of gossip, almost to the point of social,ostracism because he has Singaporean mistress. However as he's a sterling cricketer much is forgiven. Curran tells Harriet, "Li An is more important to me than social acceptance.” Curran would marry her but Khoo Li An doesn't want him to fly in the face of his compatriots.
I wonder where this devoted relationship will go to in the future"
If future plots are as complex and delicious as this I am looking forward to more of Curran and Harriet and any futher investigative undertakings.
An intriguing and throughly enjoyable read!
A Berkley Publication via NetGalley
August 17, 2022
A slow murder mystery. Set in Singapore, but with mostly European characters. Not much character work.
Booktone = New York Pink (intellectual, plot focus). https://youtube.com/watch?v=AD4WKlAB0Jw
Booktone = New York Pink (intellectual, plot focus). https://youtube.com/watch?v=AD4WKlAB0Jw
August 26, 2020
Singapore Sapphire was a mild, if not interesting, historical mystery. Set in 1910 in one of three British colonies known as the Straights Settlements, A.M. Stuart wrote an atmospheric sense of place. The sweltering heat and cultural diversity under British rule offered a different kind of setting. I felt a moderate amount of tension between the Brits, Dutch and native residents as was to be expected.
Mrs. Harriet Gordon and Inspector Robert Curran were an unusual alliance. She was a widow living with her brother, the Reverend Julian Edwards, who was headmaster of a prep school. Curran had ‘gone native’ and was content with his job when things ran smoothly. At the beginning, I don’t think either of them expected much camaraderie.
Acquaintances first, with a slow friendship in the works, they were caught in a knot of nefarious activities with a murder at its core. The suspense was satisfactory but I would have liked it if the mystery was concise -for lack of a better word- and, maybe, a bit more unsettled.
While reading Singapore Sapphire, I tried googling Singapore around 1910 and there was very little information. It helped immensely that Ms. Stuart wrote an ‘Author’s Note’ at the and with several explanations. The fact she lived part of her life in Singapore only added to storyline.
Mrs. Harriet Gordon and Inspector Robert Curran were an unusual alliance. She was a widow living with her brother, the Reverend Julian Edwards, who was headmaster of a prep school. Curran had ‘gone native’ and was content with his job when things ran smoothly. At the beginning, I don’t think either of them expected much camaraderie.
Acquaintances first, with a slow friendship in the works, they were caught in a knot of nefarious activities with a murder at its core. The suspense was satisfactory but I would have liked it if the mystery was concise -for lack of a better word- and, maybe, a bit more unsettled.
While reading Singapore Sapphire, I tried googling Singapore around 1910 and there was very little information. It helped immensely that Ms. Stuart wrote an ‘Author’s Note’ at the and with several explanations. The fact she lived part of her life in Singapore only added to storyline.
May 12, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up for unusual locale.
Interesting start to a historical mystery series.
I liked the unusual setting (Singapore in 1910). The author did a great job in depicting the tropical location, without making it seem like an exotic paradise. Our heroine, Harriet Gordon, is a widow with a secret. living with her bachelor brother Julian Edwards, headmaster of a school for English boys. Harriet's desire to earn money as a private secretary leads her to Sir Oswald Newbold, who desires someone to transcribe his memoirs. Alas for Harriet, Sir Oswald is murdered and she is the one to find his body.
The following investigation drives the story. I liked our police Inspector, Robert Curran, who is clever. Of necessity we have a solid medical doctor, Euan Mackenzie; and a charmingly nosy newspaper reporter, Griff Maddocks. The mystery itself is tricky and, as the body count rises, the question arises--are we dealing with only one murderer, or two? On the personal side, it looks like the author is trying to set up a romantic triangle, with both Curran and Maddocks showing interest in Harriet.
All in all, I enjoyed it enough that I've added the second book (Revenge in Rubies) to my TBR stack.
Interesting start to a historical mystery series.
I liked the unusual setting (Singapore in 1910). The author did a great job in depicting the tropical location, without making it seem like an exotic paradise. Our heroine, Harriet Gordon, is a widow with a secret. living with her bachelor brother Julian Edwards, headmaster of a school for English boys. Harriet's desire to earn money as a private secretary leads her to Sir Oswald Newbold, who desires someone to transcribe his memoirs. Alas for Harriet, Sir Oswald is murdered and she is the one to find his body.
The following investigation drives the story. I liked our police Inspector, Robert Curran, who is clever. Of necessity we have a solid medical doctor, Euan Mackenzie; and a charmingly nosy newspaper reporter, Griff Maddocks. The mystery itself is tricky and, as the body count rises, the question arises--are we dealing with only one murderer, or two? On the personal side, it looks like the author is trying to set up a romantic triangle, with both Curran and Maddocks showing interest in Harriet.
All in all, I enjoyed it enough that I've added the second book (Revenge in Rubies) to my TBR stack.
December 29, 2023
THE GOOD:
An entertaining whodunnit in a classic Agatha Christie-style, with a murder mystery in an exotic locale.
An added bonus, the book is fairly clean fiction with little to no steamy scenes, vulgarity, or diversity checklist bingo.
THE BAD:
If I had one complaint, it would be that it was hard for me to really cement a relationship with either main character, Harriet or Inspector Curran, due to the changing of point of view. Leaning more on one or the other would have been good.
CONCLUSION:
An enjoyable, by-the-fireside read.
An entertaining whodunnit in a classic Agatha Christie-style, with a murder mystery in an exotic locale.
An added bonus, the book is fairly clean fiction with little to no steamy scenes, vulgarity, or diversity checklist bingo.
THE BAD:
If I had one complaint, it would be that it was hard for me to really cement a relationship with either main character, Harriet or Inspector Curran, due to the changing of point of view. Leaning more on one or the other would have been good.
CONCLUSION:
An enjoyable, by-the-fireside read.
April 8, 2019
I enjoyed this historical mystery set in early 20th century Singapore. The characters ring true to the time period, and I think the non-white characters may suffer lack of detail because of that.
The idea of the Geographical Society was neat- one had to have a landmark named after oneself in order to belong. It seems like just the kind of thing that colonial Englishmen would do. I liked the two protagonist characters- they possessed the British virtues of stiff upper lips and honor, but weren't sticks in the mud. For whatever reason, I love the British stiff-upper lip thing no matter how unhealthy it would be in reality. I also liked the fact that the main characters were cognizant of the fact that not only had a white man been murdered, but his Singaporean servant as well, and they wanted justice for both.
There is a kitten, a stiff-upper lip British child, smuggling (you can probably guess that from the title), villains cold as ice. Because of the villains it's a bit more bloody and serious than a cozy, but it doesn't wallow in gore either. Read this one if you need a bit of an escape (as long as you don't feel guilty going to romantic colonial Singapore) and want the good guys to win in the end. This is not a romance, but there's a hint of a slow burn of something possibly to come.
The idea of the Geographical Society was neat- one had to have a landmark named after oneself in order to belong. It seems like just the kind of thing that colonial Englishmen would do. I liked the two protagonist characters- they possessed the British virtues of stiff upper lips and honor, but weren't sticks in the mud. For whatever reason, I love the British stiff-upper lip thing no matter how unhealthy it would be in reality. I also liked the fact that the main characters were cognizant of the fact that not only had a white man been murdered, but his Singaporean servant as well, and they wanted justice for both.
There is a kitten, a stiff-upper lip British child, smuggling (you can probably guess that from the title), villains cold as ice. Because of the villains it's a bit more bloody and serious than a cozy, but it doesn't wallow in gore either. Read this one if you need a bit of an escape (as long as you don't feel guilty going to romantic colonial Singapore) and want the good guys to win in the end. This is not a romance, but there's a hint of a slow burn of something possibly to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2019
Some stories you just have to devour, they're so compelling. This is such a one.
Harriet Gordon, widow, stenographer and suffragette, and the dedicated Inspector Curran, the not-quite gentleman detective, are two of my new favourite characters, brought together in colonial 1910 Singapore by a murder that spreads tentacles far and wide.
As the title indicates, precious gems are involved, although Harriet herself is the real 'gem', a woman of education, principles, and, for the times, a very practical outlook on life. Having set herself up with a typewriter and using her shorthand skills, she is all set to begin contributing to the household coffers through her endeavours when she stumbles upon her new employer, dead, by violent means. What follows is a crime mystery that unfolds amidst the steaming tropical heat of Singapore pre-WW1.
Stuart seamlessly blends real places, events, and historical figures, within her work of fiction, bringing the colonial outpost to life in all its riotous colour, smells, and prejudices.
Any time a book has me lying awake thinking about the characters and the troubles they are embroiled in is a good read. In this case, I am delighted to know it is the first of a series. Highly recommended. I can't wait for Harriet's next adventure, and hope Inspector Curran is at her side.
Harriet Gordon, widow, stenographer and suffragette, and the dedicated Inspector Curran, the not-quite gentleman detective, are two of my new favourite characters, brought together in colonial 1910 Singapore by a murder that spreads tentacles far and wide.
As the title indicates, precious gems are involved, although Harriet herself is the real 'gem', a woman of education, principles, and, for the times, a very practical outlook on life. Having set herself up with a typewriter and using her shorthand skills, she is all set to begin contributing to the household coffers through her endeavours when she stumbles upon her new employer, dead, by violent means. What follows is a crime mystery that unfolds amidst the steaming tropical heat of Singapore pre-WW1.
Stuart seamlessly blends real places, events, and historical figures, within her work of fiction, bringing the colonial outpost to life in all its riotous colour, smells, and prejudices.
Any time a book has me lying awake thinking about the characters and the troubles they are embroiled in is a good read. In this case, I am delighted to know it is the first of a series. Highly recommended. I can't wait for Harriet's next adventure, and hope Inspector Curran is at her side.
February 13, 2020
Harriet is a nice young woman who has lost her husband and child to colera. She decides to move to Singapore for a new beginning. She has to earn a living so after advertising in the newspaper she is hired by a wealthy eccentric to write his memoirs. Reporting to work to retrieve her typewriter she finds her employer and his man servant brutally murdered. Inspector Curran shows up to investigate and the mystery begins.
What I thought was going to be a historical romance I soon found was truly a thriller. On these pages you will find, ruthless criminal who will go to any links to get what they desire, even murder. You will find both men and women who wear multiple faces. You will feel the very depths of heartless abandon for life. You will find also men and women of great courage and unshakeable moral values. The romance you find will not be where you expect it. This however is not a romance story. The atmosphere is rich , so much you may feel a humid mist in the air, and find out how terror can make or break you.
I could smell the rotting vegetation of the jungle. Feel the sweat forming upon worried brows, and see the wheels turning in Inspector Curran's eyes. Some things you may figure out and others will have to slowly spill from the page.
I was sent this book in exchange for a fair honest review, all opinions are solely my own.
What I thought was going to be a historical romance I soon found was truly a thriller. On these pages you will find, ruthless criminal who will go to any links to get what they desire, even murder. You will find both men and women who wear multiple faces. You will feel the very depths of heartless abandon for life. You will find also men and women of great courage and unshakeable moral values. The romance you find will not be where you expect it. This however is not a romance story. The atmosphere is rich , so much you may feel a humid mist in the air, and find out how terror can make or break you.
I could smell the rotting vegetation of the jungle. Feel the sweat forming upon worried brows, and see the wheels turning in Inspector Curran's eyes. Some things you may figure out and others will have to slowly spill from the page.
I was sent this book in exchange for a fair honest review, all opinions are solely my own.
January 31, 2020
Singapore 1910. Harriet Gordon has a new job of taking notes for Sir Oswald Nebold's memoirs.
She knocks at his door; it's quiet. She calls out, but no one is home. She had left her typewriter there and needs it now. Upon entering she spots a body on the floor. It's Oswald Nebold.
After the police are called, it becomes quite the mystery with another body found in a canal.
Curran the police chief and Harriet find themselves face to face with ruthless murderers; who are quick to defend what they feel entitled to.
She knocks at his door; it's quiet. She calls out, but no one is home. She had left her typewriter there and needs it now. Upon entering she spots a body on the floor. It's Oswald Nebold.
After the police are called, it becomes quite the mystery with another body found in a canal.
Curran the police chief and Harriet find themselves face to face with ruthless murderers; who are quick to defend what they feel entitled to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2023
3.5* This book is set in the bubble the British created in one of the many places they colonized. It was as if no people other than Europeans were of any consequence. The lovely setting of Singapore 1910 drew me in. I was interested in the place and several of the British characters were well developed, there were no Asian characters of any depth and that was disappointing, it would have made the book more enjoyable for me. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld was excellent. I look forward to giving Book two a chance.
July 22, 2019
After losing her husband and son in India, Harriet Gordon works at a school in Singapore where her clergyman brother Julian serves as headmaster. She decides to offer stenography services to provide income. She discovers her client Oswald Newbold's murdered body. Harriet's skills impress Inspector Curran. A clue VOC, which most people consider the old East India Company, surfaces. Inspector Curran and Harriet both know it must bear a different meaning. As the investigation begins to focus on the victim's past, multiple suspects emerge.1910 Singapore offers an interesting setting. I read an advance review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2019
This delightful book has been my bedtime reading for the past week and I've enjoyed every minute of it. A.M. Stuart is an accomplished writer with the kind of style that lets you see the settings and characters as if you were watching a film. This novel transported me to Singapore in the early twentieth century and was so convincing that I could almost feel the heat and humidity. The sense of the colonial era is well realised and the author has done an amazing job researching the time and place. The story is a good one and I liked the heroine Harriet Gordon who is believable and satisfyiing in being different from the usual run of heorines. Harriet is a young widow and a former suffragette who is now is living and working in her brother's school. She's convincing and interesting and I hope there will be more Harriet Gordon books. I really looked forward to curling up with "Singapore Sapphire" each evening. It was a comfy read with enough action and intrigue to keep me engaged to the end. Throughly enjoyed it!
January 17, 2021
This is Historical Fiction - Mystery. I will start by saying that I loved the MC, Harriet. I'd read more in this series just because of her. She was smart and witty. Definitely a very strong character. I also liked the Inspector. They worked well together in this one.
This book had many great elements, including well placed characters. There was much to like, but there were also some plot related things that were a little too obvious that kind of took the "wow" out for me. So 3 stars.
This book had many great elements, including well placed characters. There was much to like, but there were also some plot related things that were a little too obvious that kind of took the "wow" out for me. So 3 stars.
eeyur
May 31, 2022i don’t know how i feel about the fact that a white author who “lived in singapore” wrote a book that centres british people (our colonisers) in a story about colonial singapore, or the fact that its protagonist, a british person, is making use of a british colony as a “fresh start” :/ that feels gross to me. singapore has been misrepresented enough in western media as it is, what with crazy rich asians being touted as a diversity win despite the harmful stereotypes and notions it perpetuates.
October 18, 2019
Singapore Sapphire is a delightful piece of debut historical fiction. Stuart does an excellent job of depicting the setting, and her character development is strong. Each character (of many) is distinct enough to stand apart, and the story moves in a straight line—a good thing. I found myself caring about her protagonist and the police inspector, and especially about the little boy, Will. (The kitten was a bonus.)
Two other (slightly weird) things impressed me about this book. First, the author's take on the Dutch East India Company (VOC) is spot on. I can't look at a photo of the Dutch Crown Jewels without cringing about the ruthless tyranny inflicted by the VOC. Few people are aware of its horrors. And secondly, Stuart competently handles gemological issues. She knows about pigeon's blood rubies and the value of a Ceylon sapphire. A lot of authors don't get into these types of details, but Stuart's research speaks volumes to someone like me, who loves precious stones.
Recommended, and I look forward to book 2.
Two other (slightly weird) things impressed me about this book. First, the author's take on the Dutch East India Company (VOC) is spot on. I can't look at a photo of the Dutch Crown Jewels without cringing about the ruthless tyranny inflicted by the VOC. Few people are aware of its horrors. And secondly, Stuart competently handles gemological issues. She knows about pigeon's blood rubies and the value of a Ceylon sapphire. A lot of authors don't get into these types of details, but Stuart's research speaks volumes to someone like me, who loves precious stones.
Recommended, and I look forward to book 2.
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